This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Washington • Sen. Orrin Hatch spent 90 minutes meeting Wednesday with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, discussing a range of issues from Trump's soon-to-be announced pick for the Supreme Court to issues closer to Utah.
Hatch, who was a vocal supporter of Trump during the campaign and has spoken to him several times since the election, said he had a lengthy discussion of "our ambitious agenda."
"We talked about a number of issues important to Utahns, and he stands ready to work with me on these matters," Hatch said in a statement after. "I was especially honored that the president solicited my views on his upcoming Supreme Court nomination, and I was eager to share my perspective, having led the fight on more than a dozen nominations to the high court."
While not mentioned, it's likely that Hatch raised his, and other Utah leaders', concerns with then-President Barack Obama's designation of the Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah.
Trump has met with congressional leaders, including Senate officials on Monday, but Hatch's visit, and its length, appear to be a rarity during the new president's first days in office.
Hatch said after the meeting that he was "very optimistic about the opportunity to work with the president on behalf of our state and nation."